Chapter 157: A Chance Encounter

Zhu Yu swore that his trip to Drangum Mountain was purely a coincidence, and he had simply wanted to join in the excitement. Never did he expect that a casual plan would actually succeed!

On the deserted path, Zhu Yu walked along with a silly grin.

"Hey, are you an idiot? What on earth are you smiling about so happily?"

Lost in his pleasant daydreams, Zhu Yu was interrupted by this sudden voice.

Coming back to his senses, Zhu Yu saw a young man dressed in purple robes standing not far ahead, staring intently at him.

It seemed this person had been there all along; otherwise, Zhu Yu would not have failed to notice them.

"How discourteous of you. I can smile if I want to—what business is it of yours?" Zhu Yu said, somewhat displeased.

"You can't put it that way. I was standing here waiting to ask for directions. If you really are an idiot, what would be the point of asking you?" the purple-robed man retorted righteously.

"Hah! You're out of your mind!"

Hearing this, Zhu Yu was so angry he laughed. He bypassed the man and continued walking forward.

The man had not expected Zhu Yu to walk away so decisively, and hastily took a few steps to follow right behind him.

Seeing the man following him without speaking, Zhu Yu grew suspicious. He stopped and said, "Didn't you want to ask for directions? Why are you following me? I'm not a local and don't know the way. You'd better go back and wait."

"It's fine. I'm just out for a stroll, and I have a feeling that following you will definitely lead to something fun."

With that, the man stepped up and walked side by side with Zhu Yu.

Hearing this, Zhu Yu's suspicions deepened. This hardly felt like a chance encounter; it seemed they were deliberately targeting him!

Since the two were walking abreast, Zhu Yu could easily size up the man with a sidelong glance.

Not looking closely was one thing, but once he did, Zhu Yu noticed a clue. Judging by the rise and fall of the person's chest, this was no man at all!

Taking another look at the delicately pretty face—even with its disguise—and the vibrant purple robes, a guess formed in Zhu Yu's mind.

Meanwhile, the "man" beside him was also secretly appraising Zhu Yu. What on earth was this person's background? How could he possibly make his brother-in-law kneel?

Unfortunately, this was the world of martial arts, yet no one could hear another's inner thoughts; otherwise, Zhu Yu would have been certain of his deduction.

This person disguised as a man was none other than A-Ju's younger sister, A-Zi.

The two walked in silence the entire way, and before long, a small town came into view.

After entering the town, A-Zi did not leave Zhu Yu's side, and Zhu Yu did not bring the matter up either. Instead, he bypassed the inn where he had arranged to meet Wang Yuyan and the others, heading straight to a tavern to rest.

***

To be clear, Zhu Yu had absolutely no romantic intentions toward A-Zi; her personality was simply more than Zhu Yu could tolerate.

What occupied Zhu Yu's mind was how Qiao Feng's storyline had already been scrambled beyond recognition. How on earth had A-Zi managed to reach Drangum Mountain? Zhu Yu was extremely curious about this. Could it truly be the self-correcting nature of the plot?

Yet Ding Chunqiu had already fled for his life—how could the plot possibly correct itself now?

Therefore, Zhu Yu wanted to test whether he could trick any information out of this eccentric and crafty A-Zi.

As soon as they sat down and ordered wine and food, Zhu Yu obliquely probed: "Drangum Mountain is rather chaotic these days. Is brother traveling alone? You'd better be careful."

"Hmph, you don't understand my skills. The one who needs to be careful isn't me."

Believing her disguise was flawless, A-Zi played right along with Zhu Yu's prompt.

Seeing A-Zi refuse to follow the script, Zhu Yu deliberately decided to scare her.

"Is that so? Then brother is truly impressive. Just earlier, I happened to run into the Star-Hosting Old Immortal, Ding Chunqiu. I wonder which of you two is more formidable?"

"Master... Ding Chunqiu? Why is he here too? Where is he? He..."

Hearing this, A-Zi leaped up in shock. Then, catching sight of Zhu Yu's face trying to suppress a smile, her own face flushed hot with embarrassment.

Slowly sitting back down, A-Zi put up a stubborn front and said, "I'm not afraid of any Star-Hosting Old Immortal. It's just that my elder sister and brother-in-law happen to be nearby, and I heard the old monster kills everyone he sees. I was merely worried about them."

At these words, a flash of sharp insight crossed Zhu Yu's eyes. So Qiao Feng had come as well.

"Oh, is that so? Actually, there's no need to worry—Ding Chunqiu was beaten away by someone," Zhu Yu remarked on purpose.

"Really?! Who beat him away? Did the old monster Ding die or not?"

Hearing Zhu Yu's words, A-Zi grew so excited that her voice slipped into its natural feminine register in the very first two words.

"The person who fought Ding Chunqiu was truly formidable. You certainly know him."

"Who is it? Tell me, quickly! Why are you always holding back and playing riddles?"

"It's Qiao Feng! That Qiao Feng is truly worthy of being a hero. With just a couple of moves, he sent Ding Chunqiu running. It's a pity..."

"A pity what?"

"A pity that old poisonous fiend Ding Chunqiu cast a poison before he fled. Who knows how Qiao Feng is doing right now."

Zhu Yu said with a deliberate tone of lament.

***

Sure enough, A-Zi fell right into the trap. She sprang up, shrieked "Brother-in-law!", and hurried outside. Naturally, Zhu Yu followed closely behind, eager to catch a glimpse of Qiao Feng, whom he had not seen in a long time.

However, no sooner had she stepped out the door than A-Zi's large eyes darted around as suspicion began to take root. Hearing the footsteps trailing close behind her, she realized at once that she had been played.

Ever since A-Zi began roaming the pugilistic world, countless people had bullied her, yet very few had ever managed to make a fool of her. Her lawless, untamed temper flared up instantly; she no longer cared what background or status Zhu Yu might possess.

Without hesitation, she quietly drew several hidden darts from her bosom, whirled around without warning, and hurled them at Zhu Yu.

To A-Zi, this sequence of actions was swift to the extreme. Yet in Zhu Yu's eyes, there was boundless room to maneuver.

Tilting his head slightly, three oddly shaped darts flew right past his ears.

Though Zhu Yu dodged with ease, his mocking half-smile froze on his face. Those three darts were no joke—they had been aimed straight at his head with intent to kill on impact!

Looking back, two of the darts had embedded themselves deeply into a wooden pillar, leaving almost no trace, while the third dart had plunged into the tavern owner's fish-keeping water vat.

Barely five breaths of time had passed, and the fish inside the water vat were already completely dead!

Seeing this, Zhu Yu's expression turned utterly cold. He looked at A-Zi's startled face and said,

"Consider yourself lucky that you have a good elder sister. Otherwise, based on that little stunt you just pulled, wanting to die would have been the hardest thing in the world for you!"

A-Zi shrank her neck slightly under Zhu Yu's gaze, but quickly recovered. She took a few steps forward and shouted angrily:

"Fine! So you knew my identity all along! Since I was a kid, no one has ever dared to play me like this! Now that you know who my brother-in-law is, have you figured out how you want to die?"

Ignoring A-Zi's bluster, Zhu Yu frowned at her and said, "It truly is in one's nature. Even if A-Ju were alive, nothing could change it."

"Alive or dead, what nonsense are you babbling? Are you cursing my elder sister?!"

"I'm not cursing your elder sister. What you should be considering right now is yourself."

Before his words finished fading, Zhu Yu flicked into motion. In a flash, he appeared behind A-Zi, pressing a finger against an acupoint on the back of her neck, freezing her instantly and leaving her unable to move.

To be honest, had he not already become entangled with Qiao Feng, Zhu Yu would have dearly loved to finish her off right here and now. People who commit wrongdoings while knowing they are evil cannot truly be called wicked; it is those who commit monstrous acts while remaining utterly convinced they are in the right who are truly evil!